IMAGE OF THE WEEK
XC IS A TEAM SPORT - Minutes before their epic performance at the 40th Annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic the Newbury varsity team huddles for final instructions. The team went on to run the fastest high school individual and team time ever.
TOP ATHLETES OF ‘20-’21
The COVID epidemic saw some of City’s top distance runners miss out on their final XC season in 2020. To recognize these runners ‘The Drive’ is highlighting accomplishments from this spring’s City Track & Field Championships held at Birmingham High School on June 16-17th, 2021.
Miranda Schriver
Palisades Charter
Miranda Schriver (SR-Palisades) had an auspicious start in LA City XC winning the Division 1 City Final race as a freshman and then taking 2nd her sophomore year in a thriller against Sofia Abrego. She decided to focus on soccer her junior year but returned this spring to cap off her high school career by taking 1st in the 3,200m and 2nd in the 1,600m at the City Track Finals.
Lucas Schriver
Palisades Charter
Lucas Schriver (SR-Palisades) was a stand-out runner as a freshman but injuries and COVID conspired to deny his claim to a City XC or track championship until this year. Perseverance paid off though and in June Lucas won both the 1,600m and 3,200m championship races at this year’s City Track Finals. In this picture Lucas and Clark Reynolds (Marshall) finish 1-2 in the 1,600m Championship race at the LA City Track Finals.
Miranda and Lucas Shriver dominated the distance events at the City Finals earning a combined three 1st places and a 2nd place in the Championship races. They are the 1st siblings (and twins) in LA City history to be concurrent City Champions.
RISING STARS
MAX FIELDS
Palisades Charter-10th Grade
Max Fields had an impressive freshman track season recording PB’s of 4:37.70 (1,600m) and 9:55.68 (3,200m). He’s picked to win the City division 1 XC championship this fall. If successful, he’ll be the 2nd sophomore boy to do that in 45 years!
Max Fields is shown competing in the Championship 1,600m race at the City Finals in June.
MEZTLI VELAZQUEZ
Granada Hills-9th Grade
In just 2 races in her burgeoning XC career Freshman Meztli Velazque of Granada Hills has risen to #3 overall in the LA City rankings which also happens to be 3rd on the Granada Hills varsity team. She’s ranked #4 on our TOP-10 List, the only underclassmen to make the list in ‘21.
THE WEEK IN PICTURES
Marshall's Finlay Robertson and Panos Papadeas relax after medaling in the Bell-Jeff Invitational.
Canoga teammates Angelina Lopez (220), Dulce Gonzalez (219) and Angelina Valladares (226) pose after their team's 7th place team finish.
Eagle Rock's top runner Keely Miyamoto didn't let an ankle injury stop her. The #1 ranked runner in City division 2 finished 9th at Bell-Jeff.
Dulce Gonzalez has had a brilliant senior year. She took 7th at Bell-Jeff and is ranked #1 in City division 3.
Taft's Deigo Terrien competes in the Red Varsity race at Bell-Jeff on Saturday, Sept. 28th.
Granada's killer varsity team prior to the start of the Rated race at Woodbridge.
Sofia Abrego leads the Granada girls in the Rated race at the Woodbridge Invitation on Sept. 18th.
With about 700 meters to go El Camino Real's Austen Ledgerwood leads the varsity race at the West Valley Cluster meet on Sept. 2nd.
In her only race this season Chatsworth's Brooke Sherriff won the varsity race at the West Valley Cluster meet on Sept 2nd.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
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Renewal
Jeff Atkinson takes the reigns of a San Pedro XC program that looks to be rebuilding after their ‘19 City championship. Coach Atkinson has a prodigious running career that includes competing in the ‘88 S. Korean Olympics and coaching several powerhouse southern section distance programs.
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Resurgence
The Taft XC team sits for a team photo in front of their new tent at Pierce College after the West Valley Cluster meet. Taft comes into the ‘21 season with high expectations. New Head Coach Mario Castillo and his runners are up to the challenge and showing a new attitude.
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Resolve
Coaches Colson Phillip and Camille King jumped through hoops to provide a ‘20 XC season for the ECR team. The Royals ran 5 dual meets against Agoura, Calabasas, Granada Hills, Birmingham and Chatsworth; something few City schools accomplished.
(l-r) Max Liberman, Dylan McDermott, Aidan Emery, Leta Squier, Mateo Glass, Coach Colson and Camille.
‘The Drive’
Is dedicated to LA City’s high school distance running community
The goal is to evangelize exceptional teams and athletes with high quality, curated content and editorial perspectives in an online periodic publication.
Each volume will include a ‘Special’ section, as well as Athletes of the Week/Month, ‘The Week in Pictures’ including a ‘Picture of the Week’, ‘The Numbers’, and ‘Heard on the Trail’.
ENJOY!
